Hutchinson surged late to upset Orono in the Class 3A, Section 6 final and advance to the girls’ basketball state tournament for the first time since 2012.

The Tigers trailed for most of the game but got past the Spartans, the section’s top seed, 56-53 on Thursday at Chanhassen High School behind standout performances from Morgan Kurth, Tori Wortz and Erin Corrigan.

Corrigan made a pivotal play late, stealing a pass and then scoring on a fast-break layup that cut Orono’s lead to 51-48.

“We picked them up full court. We hadn’t done that the whole game, which kind of caught them by surprise,” Hutchinson coach Tim Ellefson said.

“We play on momentum, and we play on energy. That big play just kind of turned it around for us.”

With less than 30 seconds left in the contest, Corrigan rebounded a Spartans miss and then made two free throws to give the Tigers a 54-51 lead. Shortly after, Wortz, who had 22 points, made two free throws of her own.

“I knew I just had to get in a rhythm and then if I could do that, I’d make them,” Wortz said.

Wortz, a junior, consistently scored down the stretch. Kurth, also a junior who scored 18 points, was aggressive attacking the rim and a constant pest on defense.

For Orono (25-4), seniors Meghan Mandel and Danielle Jorgenson both scored 16 points. But when it mattered most, Hutchinson (23-5) ratcheted up the pressure.

“We found a way to get to them,” Ellefson said. “I couldn’t be more proud of my girls.”

Hutchinson surged late against Orono in a 56-53 upset in the Section 6 championship to advance to the Class 3A state tournament.

The Tigers (23-5) trailed for most of the game but got past the Spartans (26-4) behind standout performances from Morgan Kurth, Tori Wortz and Erin Corrigan.

Kurth pushed the pace for Hutchinson. The junior forward was aggressive attacking the rim and also a pest on defense. Wortz, also a junior, consistently scored down the stretch and converted clutch free-throws.

Erin Corrigan made a pivotal play in the game, stealing a pass and then scoring a fast-break layup that cut Orono’s lead to 51-48. With less than 30 seconds left in the second half, Corrigan rebounded a Spartans miss and then made two free throws to give the Tigers a 54-51 lead. 

Check back later for more on the game.